Threat Shark Summer – Playlist PAYDAY

Technically this is playlist #29, but considering the circumstance, I had to amp things up a bit. Hence we have Playlist PAYDAY. Boom.

First off, huge thanks to Mr. Kergs for covering for me last week. I was wrapping up my last week in Toronto and between packing things up and tying up loose ends, I was doing my best to see a few sites last minute. This marks the third new location that I have published a Threat Shark Summer playlist from. Previously, I had fired things up from New College on the U of T campus. A quick move down the street brought me to Whitney Hall on U of T campus. Right now, I’m pitstopping in Calgary at my parents’ place before heading on to Castlegar for a wedding and finally Kamloops for the start of (what will hopefully be) my last year of school.

For this week, Brendan and I decided we wanted to wrap things up with a recap of our favourite tunes of the summer.

For you, I have 48 tracks compiled from my previous playlists as well as two brand-spanking new tunes that have yet to appear this summer. Hope you enjoy!

Musicschmuzick

1. Make A New Dance Up by Hey Ocean! – May 22
2. Lose It by Austra – May 22
3. My 5 by Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party – May 22
4. Out on the Shield by Said the Whale – May 22
5. Darling, Darling, Darling by Corey Isenor – May 29
6. Grab Me By the Lapel by The North Lakes – May 29
7. How Darwinian by Dan Mangan – May 29
8. No Common Ground by Gabrielle Papillon – May 29
9. The Sheriff by The Strumbellas – June 5
10. Hondo by Beta Frontiers ft. Becky Ninkovic – June 5
11. Ciao Monday by Emm Gryner – June 5
12. If I Get Old by Elliott Brood – June 5
13. In Came the Flood by Wintersleep – June 12
14. Bloodlines by Arkells – June 12
15. Echoists by Young Liars – June 12
16. Oceans by Topanga – June 12
17. Fisticuffs & Affidavits by Parlovr – June 19
18. Come On Out by The Elwins – June 19
19. Hallways by Islands – June 19
20. Americanarama by Hollerado – June 19
21. Pool Hoppin’ by Octoberman – June 26
22. Two Feet Stand Up by Cookie Duster – June 26
23. Ropes That Way by Dirty Ghosts – June 26
24. One Shot by Bend Sinister – June 26
25. Last Parade by Matthew Good – July 10
26. Who Do We Care For? by Sebastien Granger and the Mountains – July 10
27. What Are You Waiting For? by Hexes and Ohs – July 10
28. Arms Tonight by Mother Mother – July 10
29. Chameleon/Comedian by Kathleen Edwards – July 17
30. Queen of Hearts by F*cked Up – July 17
31. Vowels = Space and Time by Grimes – July 17
32. Hoshi Neko by Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – July 17
33. Chit Chat by Hannah Georgas – July 24
34. All My Friends by Lindi Ortega – July 24
35. Life on Earth by Dala – July 24
36. Quelque Part by Caracol – July 24
37. Florentine by Cinderpop – July 31
38. Edmonton By The Rural Alberta Advantage – July 31
39. I Don’t Know by The Sheepdogs – July 31
40. Scar That Never Heals by Jeremy Fisher – July 31
41. I’m Just Me by Diamond Rings – August 7
42. What Do You Wanna Do? by Louise Burns – August 7
43. When I Write My Master’s Thesis by John K. Samson – August 7
44. Favourite Kisses by Henri Faberge and the Adorables – August 7
45. Ontario by Will Currie and the Country French – August 14
46. Hallelujah Halifax! by Audio/Rocketry – August 14
47. West Simcoe County by Dinner Belles – August 14
48. I Drove the Coquihalla by Chixdiggit! – August 14
49. Waikiki by Belle Plaine – August 28
50. The Discocalypse by Tupper Ware Remix Party – August 28

Kergin will hit you with another phatty playlist on Thursday. After that, we hope to be hearing you listening to us on the airwaves back in Kamloops on X 92.5FM!

Cheers to the few remaining days of summer! Make the most of ’em!

-T

Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #15

Take me out, lay me down. Let the dirt fall all around me, baby. Ain’t it good to be back home?

I might be singing something like that if I were back at home in Calgary or Kamloops. But I’m still in Toronto.

Actually, I’m singing it anyways because it comes from our first track of the night! On to the music!

MUSACK!

1. Last Parade by Matthew Good – I fell in love with Matthew Good’s music when I heard Strange Days for the first time. Something about that song just hit me right in my emo button and I have had a dying allegiance to Matt Good ever since. Last Parade comes from Good’s 2009 album entitled Vancouver. Oddly enough, Last Parade was featured in a game-opening video by the Calgary Flames in 2010.
2. Amazing Backgrounds by Eric Chenaux – Chenaux is a folk artist hailing from none other than Toronto, Ont. In March 2012, he released Guitar & Voice. Amazing Backgrounds is featured on that album and Chenaux’s vocals will leave the listener feeling an eerie chill down their spine.
3. Who Do We Care For? by Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains – Grainger is more commonly known for his popular Canadian alt. rock act, Death From Above 1979. Clearly in a more lighthearted mood when working on this project, Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains is a pop rock outfit from Toronto. While there are certainly elements of DFAB1979 present, Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains have a significantly less industrial sound in comparison. Who Do We Care For? comes from the group’s 2008 self-titled release.
4. Something of Love by Ivy Mairi – While not quite Toronto, Ivy Mairi calls Toronto Island home. Silky female vocals accompany an acoustic guitar and send the listener into summertime dreamland. Mairi lists Neil Young, Van Morrison, Lauryn Hill and Paul Simon as influences and it is certainly easy to pick up on those influences in this track.
5. Agent Zero by Arkells – From just down the road in Hamilton, Ont., I am bringing you more Arkells. There was a time when I could only impress you. That’s what I’m thinking right now as I fail miserably at impressing you. My jokes are no longer funny or are completely non-existent and I’m starting to feature the same bands on a regular basis! That’s ok, I like to think I get a free pass here because of how awesome Arkells are. Turn all the lights down low…
6. Wild Shores by Cory Isenor – Nova Scotia is the home of Cory Isenor and his acoustic folk tunes grab me every time. He has also been previously featured on Threat Shark, but like I said, I have no shame in continually promoting artists that I think deserve the attention. Wild Shores comes from Isenor’s 2011 release, The Hunting Party.
7. Hate Crime by AUSTRA – This Toronto electro/ space pop group is touring Canada this summer and fall, including an Aug. 4 date at home in TO. If they happen to make a stop in your town, make sure you get out to the show. Tour dates include: Montreal (Aug. 5), Regina (Aug. 10), Vancouver (Sept. 12), Victoria (Sept. 13), Quebec City (Sept. 22), Kingston (Sept. 23), Hamilton (Sept. 25), London (Sept. 26) and Waterloo (Sept. 27). For some reason, Alberta gets no love.
8. What Are You Waiting For? by Hexes and Ohs – It isn’t very often that you get a song title with a question mark in it. On this edition of Threat Shark, we have TWO songs with a question mark in their respective titles. I love it. Oddities are fantastic. Hexes and Ohs hails from Montreal and have released four full-length albums, including 2012’s Thank You.
9. On Nights Like Tonight by Matthew Good – Well, I brought us in with some Matthew Good and I am going to start the send-off with some more Matthew Good. On a night like tonight, why not?
10. Arms Tonight by Mother Mother – Simply because it has been far too long since I have heard from Mother Mother. On a night like tonight, if given the chance, I might just fall in your arms tonight. I might fall hard and it might be nice for all we know. Too bad we won’t ever know. At least not tonight. Maybe in the future?

Random and all over the map, I hope you enjoyed Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #15. It certainly is my least-focused effort yet. But what’s wrong with a little A.D.D. every once and a while?

Kergin is up next on Thursday.

Ciao bellas.

-T

Threat Shark Summer – Playlist #6

So Imma brag here for uno momento.

As you may have guessed, I’m a fan of live music. I try to get out to shows whenever I can afford it or get in for free when I can. Supporting young acts and friends, seeing great performances, bragging rights, being social, just having a good time; all are good reasons for going to a concert when you can (except maybe bragging rights, but it’s valid to a degree).

It’s become a more important part of the industry lately, too. With the failing recording industry (money-wise) a lot of the music we talk about here is powered by live performances. The bands prove themselves out there on stage, and if their good, it powers them financially. Money more often goes to the bands and their direct support staff than some marketer or corporate bureaucrat.

Anywho, I don’t think I need to make a huge argument for going out to see music played live, ’cause going out is better than staying in. So here’s a list of bands I’ve seen live, and songs they played when I saw them.

The music you are looking for is in a different castle, so click this link!

1. Lily Frost – The City Seems So Far from the album Viridian Torch

   I really felt bad for her. Frost came to Victoria a couple years ago, on a Sunday night and played Lucky Bar. Normally that’s a hot venue, but for some reason (partly lack of promotion, partly lack of name recognition) it was empty. When I say empty, I mean there were more staff and band members than fans. I think it was just my sister and I and one other table with two people. In a club meant for a couple hundred people. And the worst part about it was she was GOOD! Really good. The lack of people didn’t really sway her. Five musicians jammed the stage, with an empty dance floor in front of them. I wrote a review for the Nexus and yelled at Victoria a bit. Anyways, she was super talented, all over the map musically, from fun little ditties, to this song which is a great soft song. On top of that, she broke out a Theremin. Ya, live Theremin, people, that’s what you missed.

2. Hey Rosetta! – I’ve Been Asleep for a Long, Long Time from the album Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood)

   I think this was a sold out show, or pretty close at least. The east coast band had travelled across the country and it was their final show of the tour, supporting Into Your Lungs. Local station the Zone had been pumping Red Heart out for the last few months and there was a crowd amped up for a live show, and Hey Rosetta delivered. It didn’t feel too east coast, just a solid indie band at the top of their game.

3. Mother Mother Dirty Town from the album Touch Up

   These guys have really picked up speed since I saw them. They had just released “Oh My Heart” and it was blowing up on the air waves. I was reviewing for the Nexus and got in a little late (who’s on stage at 8:30?). While Body of Years was big for them, I liked a slightly different style of theirs, with a more choppy sound and great harmonies. Dirty Town is a great example of this with the “chop, chop, chops” and “get, gones”. On top of that is the great lyrics, about getting out of crappy town and going to the woods for some good ol’ livin.

4. Chad VanGaalen Bones of Man from the album Soft Airplane

   VanGaalen is a bit of a chameleon. He can play a lot inside the indie genre. Here’s got a bit of that Josh Homme-style smolder going on with more interesting vocals. It’s just a cool song. And the lyrics are pretty great, with landscapes and imagery describing the “end.” He himself is a pretty interesting dude, on stage he came across as a fun guy with one of those chaotic-artistic streaks. He paid a girl for a dreadlock and tied it to his guitar is what I’m trying to say. In the middle of the show. And it didn’t seem like one of those forced “I’m a weird artsy, avant-garde kinda guy,” he just rolls that way.

5. Plants and Animals The Mama Papa from the album La La Land

   Up for a Polaris Prize when they came through town, they didn’t necessarily come across as great personalities on stage, but they played a helluva set up there, building up to this song. It had got a lot of local air play and the crowd were right into it. They great thing about their live show was the variety of influences you could hear, from blues to metal. I’m not sure a studio album can capture that as night to night you can play a song differently. With studio albums they have to hit the sound they are going for and want people to know them by. I guess you can’t blame them for being a bit meek at first though, as they’d been on the road for a couple months, but it got them some notice, and they’ve got another solid album out now.

6. Jason Collett I’ll Bring the Sun from the album Idols of Exile

   A major man in the Toronto indie scene, Collett is probably better known as a major force in the Broken Social Scene, but he’s got an solid solo career as well. A friendly, casual feel up on stage it was another solid night of Canadian indie. It’s not earth-shattering material he’s putting out, as a more conservative sound compared to BSS, but he’s got the song-writing skills to stay in the top-echelon of the Canadian music scene.

7. The Dudes Dropkick Queen of the Weekend from the album beepuncher e.p.

   The party band of this group, they actually opened up for Hey Rosetta, which was a bit strange because their sounds don’t really match. The Dudes always seemed like a working class band playing music for a good time. I wouldn’t say redneck, just more working class rock. Hey Rosetta! had to turn up the energy it seemed, as they have more mellow studio material. A good time though, and this is a great track to just crack a Lucky to to at a friends place.

8. Buck 65 Blood of a Young Wolf from the album Secret House Against the World

   A bit of an odd venue for a rap concert, the Victoria Music Conservatory is in an old cathedral I think (not totally sure, but it looks like a big old stone church). Inside is a beautiful wooden theater-like area with pew like seating and Some balcony seating above. I went solo to this one as I didn’t find any other alt rap fans out there. With Cadence Weapon opening up, this was definitely not the gangster rap seen at some of the clubs downtown. The crowd was told not to come up in front of the stage to dance, but most stood in front of there seats. Really, a strange site for the show, but Buck 65, someone you relies on good vocal performances, turned out solid. And then some idiot stole a bunch o his gear.

9. Controller.Controller History from the album History

   The opening band for one of the loudest shows I’ve ever been to, these guys had to precede DFA 1979, so they had to bring the noise fast! And they did. The band took to the stage normally, except for the drummer, who climbed down from the balcony above the drum set. He looked like a human version of Animal (the muppet), wailing away, keeping up a fast tempo while flailing around. The singer ripped it up to and the whole show edged on hardcore punk more than anyone was expecting, which was fine, because loud chaos was the tune of the night. This was one of the highlights as the crowd knew it and really let loose for it, especially when the shouting hit.

10. Death from Above 1979 Blood On Our Hands from the album You’re A Woman I’m a Machine

    A buzz band at the time, it was a hot ticket, and these guys were worth it. SO LOUD. Loudest band ever, and it was two guys. Jesse Keeler was a magician with the base, foreshadowing his MSTRKRFT days by putting the base on a loop and messing with sound boards to create sounds not normally heard by a bass player. And Grainger was a monster with the drums and vocals. At times he seemed stuck by the set, like he wanted to get up and just take off around the stage, but had to stay seated. Really, a lot of their tracks are super strong if you want something loud and rambunctious, this is just one example. And yes, all that noise is just two men.

Ok, I hope. Smaller bands than last time, and a build up from the light touch of Lily Frost to the percussive chaos of DFA 1979. Any suggestions to an area I should explore next week?

Episode 4 (Live Blog)

We’re baaaacckkkk!

It is live blog time! Tonight we have two hours of fun planned for you! Sit tight and  enjoy the ride! See you at 7pm!

-T

#nowplaying:

1. Beaumont by 3OH!3
2. Last Night in Brooklyn by Innerpartysystem
3. Broadway by Zodiac Death Valley
4. Shipping Up to Boston by Dropkick Murphys
5. Canada Wide by The DGB
6. Boston and St. John’s by Great Big Sea
7. London Girl by Sweetheart
8. Young London by Angels & Airwaves
9. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais by The Clash
10. Warsaw by Joy Division
11. Lost in Berlin by Alien Cafe
12. Mannheim by The Perms
13. Michigan Left by Arkells
14. Detroit Rock City by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
15. Hotel California by SkaDaddyZ
16. California Bound by Carolina Liar
17. California English by Vampire Weekend
18. Harem in Tuscany by Gogol Bordello
19. Ticket to Japan by The Red Elvises
20. Singapore by Tom Waits
21. Florida Keys by Ball Gag n’ Chain Gang
22. Frank, AB by The Rural Alberta Advantage
23. Athabasca Roll by Audio/Rocketry
24. Take What I Want (Souvenir of Monte Cristo) by The Brains
25. Mexico by The Refreshments
26. We Can Win Missouri! by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
27. Milwaukee by Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers
28. Polynesia by Mother Mother
29. Panama by The Cat Empire

Banter:

• “And see, they also have a name in their name!” – TR re: California Bound by Carolina Liar
• Apologies for any audio issues out there. Not sure what is going on.
• Rosie O’Donnell kills hammerhead sharks http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Rosie+Donnell+dead+shark+pics+cause+controversy/5992257/story.html
• Sand Sharks –